Bach and Ontario Blue claim Under-18 national gold

Bach and Ontario Blue claim Under-18 national gold

Ontario continued its dynasty on the Canadian Under-18 women’s hockey stage this past weekend — but not in the way most had expected.

After seven straight national championships for the province’s first-entry (Red) team, it was Ontario Blue — including Miltonian’s Victoria Bach — that stepped up with a surprise title win in Dawson Creek, B.C.

Avenging their only loss of the tournament in Sunday evening’s gold-medal clash, Ontario Blue erased a pair of one-goal deficits en route to downing Manitoba 4-2 for its first-ever national triumph.

Ontario Red had won every previous year of the history of the event.

While kept off the scoreboard in the championship, 16-year-old Bach picked up two assists out west, including one in Saturday’s 7-1 semifinal shocker over Ontario Red.

Until then, Ontario Blue had only been to one tournament championship, ending in a 5-1 defeat to their provincial counterparts.

Bach also recorded a helper in a tournament-opening 4-2 decision over Quebec.

A third-year veteran of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League who now plays for the Mississauga Chiefs, Bach sits fourth in league scoring with five goals and 11 assists.